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Lawmaker dismayed by Senate’s action
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Posted on Mar 16 2005
Rota congressman Crispin Ogo said he is greatly dismayed over the Senate’s decision to amend his bill, which would result in the scrapping of certain projects for Rota.
Ogo was referring to the Senate’s amendment of House Bill 14-279, which aims to re-appropriate $900,000 from the Rota hemodialysis project.
The project had received a total of $1.5 million funds, but Rota authorities had lately said that the project would only require $600,000.
Originally the bill wanted to reprogram the entire $900,000 to other projects on Rota. The Senate, however, lowered the amount to $515,000.
The Senate said it is prudent to keep some of the money for the main project in case of possible funds shortage.
Senators cited that the proposed hemodialysis center on Saipan was originally budgeted at less than $5 million, yet the final budget ballooned to $17 million.
Ogo said the reduction in reprogrammed amount would mean a loss of at least five projects: Sinapalo indoor sports facility, Rota Health Center ($100,000), baseball field repair, shrimp hatchery infrastructure development, and Rota Liaison Office covered parking on Saipan.
“I’m very disappointed with our Rota senators. They didn’t even defend these projects,” said Ogo.
